Monday, 1 July 2013

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Burton TD, today launched the new Enterprise Ireland €375,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund aimed at stimulating new start-ups, or expansion of existing business activity in the aviation sector.

Minister Bruton said "A key part of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs is targeting specific sectors where we have established strengths, and supporting growth and expansion in those areas in order to create jobs. Aviation is one such sector - we already have in place a world-class aviation ecosystem, which offers tremendous potential for new and exciting businesses to carve out opportunities for innovative products and services. In particular, as part of our plans for the Shannon region, we are targeting the establishment of an international aviation center of excellence to support growth and jobs in the region."

Today's announcement of a new Enterprise Ireland Competitive Feasibility Fund is a part of this plan, and will help provide support to innovative companies seeking to grow and create jobs in the sector."

This fund, which can provide up to €25,000 per project, is now open for applications, and will remain open until Monday 16 September 2013.

This announcement marks the delivery of a key measure under the Government's Action Plan for Jobs, and is aimed at meeting the needs of the aviation industry and supporting the growth of international aviation companies in Ireland.

The Competitive Feasibility Fund will support new start up companies or individual entrepreneurs to investigate the viability of a new significant growth oriented business or proposition in the aviation sector.
It will also support established companies or groups of businesses to examine the potential for expansion, diversification or spinning out of a new enterprise in the industry. The funding will enable the promoters to reach firm conclusions regarding the project's viability and strategies for developing and commercializing the innovative product or service on international markets.

The fund is open to applications from the Aviation Sector including financial services associated with the sector, Aircraft and Engine leasing, Aviation software and IT, Training, Travel related software and related services, Small Aircraft Assembly, Aircraft Dismantle, Maintenance Repair Operations Airframe and Components, Composite Repair, Parts Manufacture, Aviation Services, and other engineering and technical activities.

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann, today expanded services to Manchester with the launch of its first flight from Dublin to Manchester, the inaugural service was operated by EI-FAS ATR72-600 c/n 1083.

The airline will now operate two daily return flights to Manchester from Dublin Airport and aims to fly up to 40,000 extra passengers on the route this year.

Manchester is a key destination on the Aer Lingus Regional network with a 10% increase in passenger numbers to Manchester last year on routes from Cork and Shannon.

Aer Arann, operator of Aer Lingus Regional, recently announced a package of measures to grow the airline as part of its ‘new beginning’ strategy. These measures included the expansion of services to Manchester through a new route from Dublin Airport.

Aer Arann’s chief commercial officer Simon Fagan said "We noticed that a large part of the 10pc increase in passenger numbers last year were passengers flying for business between these two cities. With the launch of Dublin Manchester today we are now essentially providing a shuttle service with a flight going almost every two hours, both morning and evening – 18 flights a day between Manchester and Ireland. The additional flights will further facilitate connectivity to Aer Lingus services to the US, through Dublin."